Control-chest.



8'. R. VAN VALKENBURG.

CONTROL CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, was.

Patented May 28; 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- r 70 A? PRESSURE WITNESSES: l/Vl/E/VTOI? Q4 fiz/ Bar! 2-? V0]? warm/ ATTORNEY B. R. VAN VALKENBURG.

CONTROL CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 4, 1913.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

III/III III/[III ll Bar! V027 W/ T/VESSES: d

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT R. VAN VALKENBURG, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN PHOTO PLAYER COMPANY, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CONTROL-CHEST.

Application filed November 4, 1913.

1 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURT R. VAN VAL- KENHURG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Ala med a and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C(mtrol-Chests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments of the pneumatic type having pneumatic control, and has as its principal object the provision of a master chest by which a number of independent musical instruments are operated and controlled from an automatically or manually operated central instrument, such as a piano or any keyboard instrument.

A further object resides in the particular arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings hereto attached, this master chest is shown controlling several sets of organ pipes, but it will be understood that the number may be extended to a complete r organ and that other devices such as chimes,

xylophones and the like may also be operated. The master chest itself is operated by a valve controlled from the piano abstract which causes it to work whether the central instrument is played automatically or manually. The various instruments are thrown into operation through the master chest by means of stops or valves located convenient to the operator.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a view in section through an instrument constructed in accordance with the outline presented above, showing two sets of organ pipes operated from the master chest.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the master chest.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the form of valve.

F i 4 is a view in section on the line 14 of Fig. 2, the form of valve for operating the individual notes of the various auxiliary instruments being shown.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and denoting corresponding parts by the same numerals of reference, 1 is a piano Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1.918.

Serial No. 799,117.

case in which is mounted the usual action 2, operated manually from the keys 3 or pneumatlcally from the trackerboard 4 and valve chest 5. The master chest is denoted by 6 and two sets of organ pipes 7 and S are for convenience, shown mounted back of the case 1, though in practice, I prefer to mount these pipes to one side of the said case.

The master chest 6 consists of two distmet portions, the ends and the center. The ends of the chest are connected with valves on stops 9 located convenient to the keyboard of the central instrument, and which throw into operation the various auxiliary lnstruments such as 7 or 8. The central portion of the chest is connected to valves 10 located adjacent to abstracts 11, which valves are opened on the playing of any note of the central instrument.

Referring in particular to Fig. 3, showing a cross section of the ends of the master chest, which is composed of several layers of material, it will be seen that for each control there are provided two alining cells 12 and 13 located below a cavity 14 continuous throughout the length of the chest and connected by a pipe 15 shown in Fig. 4 with a suitable source of vacuum which, in practice, we find best to locate at a considerable distance from the instrument.

Interposed between these cells and the cavity 1 1 are the flexible diaphragms 16 and 17. On the former rests a valve stem 18 which passes through a vertical hole 19 in the upper layer of the chest. Valve disks 20 and 21 are attached to this stem so that normally the latter closes opening 19 from the atmosphere While the former gives a passage therefrom to the cavity 14:. From hole 19 a passageway 22 is provided to the cell 13, the vertical portion of which extends through a block 23 individual to each valve.

A valve stem 24 rests on the diaphragm 17, and passes through an alining opening 25 in the upper layer of the chest. At the ends of this opening are provided disks 26 and 27 having holes for the passage of the valve stem, and 27 is provided with passages 28 by which communication may be had from the chamber 14 to the opening 25. Passing through the latter disk 27 is mount ed the valve stem 24:, and normally rests on the disk 27 closing passages 28.

From 25 a lateral passageway 81 is pro vided and from thence a vertical passage 82 to the tube 83 which runs to the bellows 84:, the deflation of which opens the inter or valve 35 and places the cavity 36 of the pipe chest in connection with the air pressure which is maintained in the chest 62.

From cell 12 a passageway 38 leads to the exterior of the chest and is there connected with a tube 49 which leads to one of the stops 9, each passage 4:9 having an opening to th atmosphere which is normally closed by the hinged sto 9. A small bleed hole 3%) leads from the cavity 1%. to the passage way 38, maintaining a vacuum therein until the stop 9 is moved by hand to uncover the end thereof. it will be understood, that 1 have provided one stop and complete control as above described for each of the auxiliary instruments, the controls being arranged 111 staggered relation on each end of the chest 6, as shown in Fig. 2. However, in Fig. 1 two adjacent pipes 33 are shown transversely of the chest 6 instead of 1 in Fig. 8 in order to more clearly illustrate the invention, being understood that Fig. 1 is a diagramamtic in this respect.

Each of the stops 9 is pivoted so as to turn on a horizontal pivot and normally covers the end of one of the tubes When one of the auxiliary instruments is to be brought into play, the corresponding stop is operated in an obvious manner to admit air to the corresponding tube 49. The air enters through tube 19 and raises diaphragm 16. This raises the valve stem 18, causing the disk 20 to cover the lower end of hole 19 and to open the upper end thereof. The air is then admitted to passage 22 beneath diaphragm 17 whi h rises and operates the valve 29 so as to admitair tension from chest 14. into tube 33 and thence into bellows 341.. "he operation of bellows 34: connects the chest 36 with chest (32 in a well-known manner the pressure in chests 62 being maintained through pipe 63 which is connected to a suitable pumping mechanism not shown.

lteierringnow to the central portion of the chest 6 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, this portion has a central cavity 1 1 continuous with the end portions, and below the cavity lt are ells 4-3, one from each note of the auxiliary instruments. A passage a-l leans from each cell to the exterior of the chest, and is connected by a tube 15to the passage 47 oi? valve 10, this passage at having an opening tothe atmosphere 'which. is normally closed by the hinged member 16, the latter being operated to open passage 17 by the block LS on the abstract 11 whenever the corresponding note of the central. instrumeut is sounded.

A flexible diaphragm 50 covers the cell a3 and resting thereon is a valve stem 51. In alineinent with the cell is an opening 52 in the top wall of the chest on the ends 01' which are the plates 58 and 54L. These plates have central. holes for the valve stem and also passages 55 for the How of air therethrough.

Mounted on the stem 51 is a double faced valve disk 56 which normally closes the openings 55 in plate From 52 a lateral passage 57 is provided which terminates in one or more vertical passages 57. To the latter are connected tubes 58 which lead one to each of the auxiliary musical devices which are to be operated in connection. with the central keyboard instrument.

in this case, two of organ pipes are shown having pneumatics 60 which on detiation open the interior valves 61 placing the corresponding pipes in communication with the air chamber 86 previously mentioned. Each of the pneumatics G0 is connected to one of the tubes 58 and it will be observed that only one of such tubes is shown in Fig. 1 connecting with the pneumatics controlling the pipes 7, the air chests for which are shown in section. The other tube 58 shown in Fig. -l will be understood to lead to the pneumatics controlling the row of pipes 8, which for the purposes of this in vention operates as a separate musical device or instrument from the row of pipes 7, the showing in Fig. 1 being understood to be somewhat diagrammatical.

it then a note is sounded on the piano, air is admitted through tube 15 under diaphragm 50, which immediately raises operating valve 56 so as to admit air tension into the corresponding tube 58, the tension collapses the pneumatic 60, the deflation of the pneumatics opening the coresponding valve- 61 in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 1 and placing the corresponding pipe or note produeing device in communication with. the cavity 36, consequently, when any auxiliary device has been thrown into operative posi-v tion by opening the corresponding stop, the notes of the auxiliary device are played by the opening or the valves 10 by the abstracts of the action of the central instrument. This admits air pressure to tubes d5, which in turn raises the diaphragm and lifts valve 56 with results as described previously.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that 1 have provided a device which may be termed a master chest, inasmuch as all operations are performed through the same. It will be seen, moreover, that the arrangement herein described permits 1116130 operate a plurality of musical instruments from one striker board, at the same time using only one perforationin the striker board and music sheet for each note. lWhile thepreterred embodiment of my invention is here shown and described, it will be understood that changes may be made in detail and design without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim 1s:

1. The combination with a central musical instrument and its complemental key-board, of a plurality of manually operated stop valves, a plurality of hinged valves adapted to be actuated from the keyboard of said central musical instrument, one or more auxiliary musical instruments, a control chest, a plurality of pairs of valves in said control chest adapted to be controlled by the said manually controlled stops, said valves con trolling the operation of the auxiliary musical instruments, a set of valves, controlled by said hinged valves, one valve of the said set of valves being adapted to control its respective sounding member of each auxiliary musical instrument.

2. The combination with a central musical instrument and its complemental keyboard, of a plurality of manually operated stop valves, a plurality of hinged valves adapted to be actuated from the keyboard of said central musical instrument, one or more auxiliary musical instruments, a control chest, a plurality of pairs of valves in said control chest adapted to be operated by the said manually controlled stops, said valves controlling the operation of the auxiliary musical instruments, a set of valves, controlled by said hinged valves, each valve of said set of valves being adapted to control its respective sounding member of each auxiliary musical instrument, and a pneumatic controller for said central instrument.

3. The combination with a central instrument having an action, of a plurality of auxiliary musical instruments, individual pneumatic mechanisms for operating said auxiliary instruments to sound the notes thereof, there being one or said pneumatic mechanisms associated with each of said auxiliary instruments, stops for controlling the operation of each of the said pneumatic mechanisms as a whole, valves individual to each of the note sounding devices in the action of said central instrument, said valves being opened upon the sounding of the corresponding note, and tubes normally closed by said valve, each of said tubes having branches running to each of said auxiliary instruments, means operated upon the opening of said branches to sound the corresponding notes in all or a portion only of said auxiliary instruments, depending upon the position 01 said stops.

4. The combination of a mechanism hav ing a plurality of operating parts, means for operating said parts independently of each other-fa plurality of groups of music-producing elements, means for controlling the operation of said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other to cause either to be thrown into or out of action, and a plurality of mechanisms for operating, respectively, the individual music producing elements of said groups, said lastnamed mechanisms being controlled by said operating parts, a plurality of said mechanisms for operating the music-producing elements in a plurality of said groups, being controlled by one of said operating parts.

5. The combination of a mechanism having a plurality of operating parts, means for operating said parts independently of each other, a plurality of groups of music-produeing elements, means for controlling the operation of said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other to cause either to be thrown into or out of action, and a plurality of mechanisms for operating, respectively, the individual musicproducing elements of said groups, said lastnamed mechanisms being controlled by said operating parts, certain of said operating parts controlling a plurality of said mechanisms for operating the music-producing elements of a plurality of said groups.

6. The combination of a mechanism having a plurality of operating parts, means for operating said parts independently of each other, a plurality of groups of music-producing elements, means for controlling the operation of said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other to cause either to be thrown into or out of action, and a plurality of pneumatic mechanisms for operating, respectively, the individual music-producing elements of said groups, said last-named mechanisms being controlled by said operating parts, a plurality of said mechanisms for operating the music-producing elements in a plurality of said groups, being controlled by one of said operating parts.

7. The combination of a music-playing instrument having a piano action, a plurality of groups of music-producing elements, means for controlling the operationof said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other to cause either to be thrown into or out of action, and a plurality of mechanisms for operating, respectively, the individual music-producing elements of said groups, said last-named mechanisms being controlled by said action, a plurality of said mechanisms for operating the music-producing elements in a plurality of said groups being controlled by one of the note-producing elements of said action.

8. The combination of a music-playing instrument having a piano action, a plurality of groups of music-producing elements, means for controlling the operation of said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other to cause either to be thrown into or out of action, and a plupneumatic I, mechanisms for operating, respectively,"the indiyidual music-producing elements of said groups, warns-named mechanisms being controll ed hyl action, I

a plurality of said mechanisms for oper tmg the music-producing k elements in a plurality I of said groups, being controlled by ionej of the note-producing elements of said action.

10 The combination of a mechanism having a plurality ofoperating parts; means for operating said parts independentlykof each other, a plurality of groups of 1nusic-pro- (lacing elen ents, means for controlling the operation of sa d groups of music-producing elements independently tr each other to cause either to be th 'own into or out of action, ya-lves individual to each of the said operating parts, a plurality of tubes controlled by each of said Valves for'coiiperation with elements of the variousfgronpslof 1nusic produ'cing elements, and pneumatic mechanisms for said inusic-prodncing tele- Gopiea of thig petcntmay be obtained to ments, respectively, cooperating with said tubes and controlled'by the positions of the said Valves, whereby theo peration of one of said valves efiiects the operation of the pluralities of said mechanisms cooperating with the particular tubes associated With the said valve.

11. The combination of a mechanism having' a plurality ofoperating' parts, means for operating said par-ts independently of each other, aplurality of groups of music-producing elements, means'for controlling the operation of said groups of music-producing elements independently of each other t, cause either to be jthrowninto or out of action, yalves individual to each of, the said operating parts, and adapted to be opened upon the actuation of said operating parts, respectively, tub es normally closed v by said valyes each of said tubes having branches running to each of said groups of inusicproducing elements, and lnea ns cooperating With said tubes and operating upon the opening of one of saidtubes to cause the sounding of the corresponding notes in all the auxiliary instruments when in position for action.

lntestlmony whereof I flfilX my signature 1n presence of tWo Witnesses.

BURT R. VAN VALKENBU RG.

, a R, M. OYARZO.

five cents each, by addressing the fflomlni ssioner of Patents,

a h n n 1 

